Firebrand freshman Republican Rep. Joe Walsh didn't quite apologize Thursday for a slew of controversial remarks, but he did allow that maybe he needs to strike a balance between his brand of "straight talk and responsible talk."

Joined by Democratic challenger Tammy Duckworth in an appearance before the Tribune's editorial board, the tea party-backed Republican conceded that more than once he has gotten "a little ahead of myself with my language" during public meetings with constituents.

But Walsh also sought to portray the flaps that followed comments about Duckworth's military service and the threat of radical Islam in the suburbs as the product of a biased media burnishing his reputation for controversy. "I think people generally find it refreshing," the congressman said of his approach.

"Am I too much of a loose cannon? No. I think people appreciate any Republican or Democrat who finally talks straight to people," he said.

The contest in the new 8th Congressional District is among the most closely watched in the country. Walsh said he "took one for the team" by not challenging a fellow Republican in the March primary and instead choosing to run against Duckworth in a district President Barack Obama won with 61.5 percent of the vote in 2008.

The hourlong exchange showed that voters in northwest Cook and northeast DuPage counties will have a clear choice Nov. 6.

On the topic of reforming entitlement programs for seniors, Walsh embraced a plan backed by Republican vice presidential candidate Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin that would offer vouchers for health care coverage. Duckworth declined to offer specifics despite being asked several times.

Walsh contended that his election in 2010 was proof that voters wanted him to go to Washington to "stop" Obama and his vision to repair the nation's economy. The congressman said reforming entitlements is key.

But Duckworth said she did not want to make changes in Medicare or Social Security until other programs are looked at for cuts.

"I certainly think that even if you put one senior on the street with a $600 voucher and say, 'Here, go negotiate with insurance companies on your own,' we have failed. That is not the right solution," Duckworth said. "I am not going to let us balance the budget on the backs of seniors and the most vulnerable."

Walsh contended that Duckworth's lack of specifics was part of an orchestrated effort by Democrats to refuse to engage in a discussion on a hot-button issue before the election.

On taxes, Duckworth said she would support ending the mortgage interest deduction on secondary residences, along with oil, gas and agribusiness subsidies. She also supports ending tax cuts enacted under President George W. Bush on incomes of $1 million or more.

Walsh said raising taxes was "not an area of compromise." He said that to achieve lower overall tax rates he would support eliminating the mortgage interest deduction on primary residences as well as on charitable deductions.

Acknowledging a tough race for re-election in a district Walsh contended was drawn specifically by Democrats for Duckworth, the congressman said the choice for voters wasn't really between the two candidates on the ballot.

Instead, he said, the race was about control of Congress and whether current House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, will keep his position or Democratic Rep. Nancy Pelosi of California would retake the job. "End of story," he said.

"I have to disagree with Congressman Walsh," Duckworth countered. "I don't think this election is about whether or not we make Nancy Pelosi or Speaker Boehner speaker. I think this election is about getting this country moving again."

But it was the subject of Walsh's sharp tongue that dominated the last part of their second joint appearance of the campaign. Walsh, a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, repeatedly has stood by his remarks on radical Islam despite criticism that he was unfairly targeting Muslim Americans for reprisals. He said U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder is investigating more than 100 cases of Muslim American citizens involved in alleged terrorist threats to the country.

With his town hall meetings being recorded, including by Democratic video trackers, Walsh has contended that Duckworth, who was severely wounded in the Iraq War, has too often promoted her military service as a reason to gain votes, unlike a "true hero." More recently he attacked the threat of radical Islam in America and said it existed "here" in Elk Grove Village, Addison and Elgin.

"Did I once again at a town hall get a little ahead of myself with my language? Absolutely," Walsh said. "Again guys, the context is, there's Joe Walsh out talking to voters and Tammy Duckworth and all these others have cameras filming me. The point I was trying to make was we don't know where (the threat is), but they're everywhere. They are in towns big and small throughout this country."